INA, Ill. (May 8, 2015) - Graphic designers at Rend Lake College have two new options to continue their higher education after graduation, thanks to the hard work of one RLC professor and the approval of two articulation agreements.
Grads can now transfer seamlessly to Stephens College for Graphic Design Communications in Columbia, Mo. or Rocky Mountain College of Arts & Design in Lakewood, Co. The articulation agreements were approved this week by the RLC Board of Trustees to be effective immediately.
An articulation agreement is a contract between two institutions in which students follow a set list of courses to complete at the first school - in this case RLC - and the student can use those same credits toward advanced standing, entry into, or transfer into a specific program at the second institution.
Chris Nielsen, Dean of Applied Science and Technology, said the agreements are the combination of student interest and dedication by Graphic Design Professor Jennifer Tarantino Linsin to make new options for graduates after leaving RLC. He added both universities were very cooperative and instrumental in completing the process.
“These Articulation Agreements are very specific documents that tell our students exactly which classes the university will accept from our Graphic Design department into theirs,†said Nielsen. “Our general studies classes transfer, plus the student will receive some upper-level credit for graphic design classes. It eliminates some of the classes an RLC graduate will have to take at the higher institution. They will save money, because our tuition rate is lower, and they will have a shortened amount of time there.â€
Students interested in Stephens College will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design Communications. The program requires a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 to enter into their two-year, four-semester program of 67 credit hours. Similarly, Rocky Mountain College will require a GPA of 2.0 to complete their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design program.
Tarantino Linsin said both Stephens and Rocky Mountain colleges were essentially chosen by students wishing to attend there after graduating from RLC’s program.
“The word on the street many times is that our degrees won’t transfer, and this isn’t true. When a freshman comes into our program, I have them tell me where they’re interested in going, because there’s a good chance we haven’t tried to articulate it,†said Tarantino Linsin. “That’s what happened with Stephens and Rocky Mountain; we had student interest. It’s important that we take advantage of any opportunity for our students to transfer credits on, and hopefully we’ll be seeing more of this arrangement in the future.â€
RLC offers an Associate in Applied Science Degree for Graphic Design, which is a two-year, 67-credit-hour program to prepare students to use print, electronic, and film media while using a variety of methods such as color, type, illustration, photography, animation, and various print and layout techniques. RLC also has two occupational certificates in Graphic Design and Graphic Web Design to provide entry-level skills in as little as one year.
Graphic designers have a wide range of employment options, including with magazines, newspapers, journals, corporations and businesses, marketing offices, television and movies, and much more. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for graphic designers is projected to increase by seven percent from 2012 to 2022.
For more information about RLC’s Graphic Design program, contact Jennifer Tarantino Linsin at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1716 or tarantino@rlc.edu. To register, contact RLC’s Academic Advising Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266.